Samsung SCH-a650

I've had my Samsung SCH-a650 for nearly three years. I'm unable to have a phone with a camera or Bluetooth in it at work, so when I was choosing a phone at the Verizon store they had only this one and another brand's model to choose from. The other phone was not a flip phone, and the keys felt cheap when pressed, unlike this one -- the keyboard on it feels solid and well-made.

Positives:
- Is a tri-mode phone, meaning it will operate on digital and analog cellular networks. Lots of newer phones are all-digital, so if you're using one of these, and you're roaming and come across a network that's analog, you will lose service until you get back to an area with digital service. This phone will simply switch over and let you keep on talking!
- Opens and operates easily with one hand.
- Screen as bright and clear as when new.
- Numbers are large on-screen when dialing.
- You can download ringtones, wallpapers, games, and other utilities.
- You can back up your phonebook to the web (if you have a Verizon on-line account set up).
- You can access the internet.
- Came loaded with Tetris and a MahJong tile game.
- Texting is easy with the predictive text input feature.

Negatives:
- Occasionally as of late, the phone has frozen up and the only way to reset is to pull the battery. This has happened maybe three or four times in the last six months. This may be due to the typical end-of-life-cycle issues most electronic equipment has.

After almost three years of use (and this is used as my home phone, too) the hinge has cracked, and I must replace it before it's broken completely. I don't feel it's a quality issue with just this phone, considering that cell phones are designed to be replaced every one or two years. I also kept this phone in my pants pocket a lot and I think I stressed the hinge when I sat down. Otherwise, I would never want to replace this phone. Also, I've dropped this phone several times on asphalt, and the only damage has been cosmetic to the outside.

Unfortunately, the only phones Verizon carries now that don't have a camera in them can't use the Get It Now or Mobile Web service, like the Samsung SCH-a650 can. With Get It Now, I can download cool ringtones (and more) and back up my phonebook online at Verizon's website, and being able to get on the internet (and even eBay) on my phone is always fun. But sadly, the new non-camera phones only let you talk and text.

So, I am happy that I've found this phone for sale on eBay. Hopefully, it will last as long as my recently broken one, and by the time the new one gives out, Samsung will be making better phones again without the camera and Bluetooth (especially considering even Samsung has a corporate policy against camera phones in the workplace).

Good workhorse phone

I lost my motorola razer phone, didn't have insurance and decided I didn't want all that camera jazz on my cell phone. All of the discount phones at Verizon were $80 bucks.
I decided to seek this phone out after a friend had used one for several years and just loved it. I found 2 on ebay, purchased them both and have really enjoyed them since. They are sturdy, work great and very affordable when purchased used.

Pros: Good reception, no-frills phone, good memory, lightweight, easy to use, built sturdy, I've dropped many times, no problems, no cracks.

Cons: limited battery life, maybe 3 hours talk time, 18 hours standby time.

Very good phone and I recommend this little workhorse of a phone.

Does your phone take a beating?

My 14 year old son went through 2 phones over the summer. One got hit by a baseball while he was umping and the screen got smashed. The next one he took for a swim. Time to give up on the fancy phones and just get something basic and sturdy. This phone has nice color display, T9 text messaging, cool ring tones, speed dialing, good battery life, and it's rugged. This has been the perfect replacement phone for him (for a whole lot less than the cost of a new battery or Verizon repair). Would buy one again.

Goog reliable phone to get!

Thre isnt really much to talk about about this phone, just that is a color phone with no caller ID. Its a low end phone nothing fancy here!

Unless new or with accessories if you pay more than 60$ for it, you paid too much, and people the phone doesnt wait that much, anything more than 10$ you are being ripped off.

Pros:
1. Ok Battery life
2. Good Reception is a tri-band phone one of the only few with samsung.
3. It could take a beating and still hold its ground and not break like other phones.
3. Reliability of the manufacturer

Cons:
1. No caller ID in the outside
2. Thing get hot sometimes after heavy usage, I guess this a good in the winter months

Who is it for?

Your 12 year old kid or maybe yourself if you just need a simple phone without all the bells and whistles and dont want to spend a fortune on it.

SCHA650-OWNED 5

Very durable phones, let me explain what been going with them

1. I signed onto this phone after having the Kyocera Phantom for nearly 3 years before that, the battery started crapping out on me with the kyocera and it was time for an upgade.

This phone lasted me just 8 months. The phone hardly got service because of the antennae going bad, the backlight did never go out set for 7 secs but i could see it lit up when it was closed through the crack on the phone like u can see the buttons. It was like it never thought it was closed or something. So insurance came through and gave me a new phone.

2. This phone was dropped around so much that the hinge broke and the phone had to pressed and held to get it to work. Verizon again replaced because I had insurance.

3. This phone lasted a good time until it was gotten wet. Inner screen went out on me and the phone had issues dialing like i heard it beep the right numbers and i saw that i dialed them right but i saw i would get the wrong person. i tried taking it apart but instead the little screwdrvier scraped it bad and so i decided to get another one.

4. lasted 4 months tossed it in an argument phone smashed against a wall and bent the bottom never did turn back on again and i upgraded to the a670